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United States Air Force - E-7 Master Sergeant

Yearly Base Pay

$43,499 - $78,188

Monthly Base Pay

$3,624.90 - $6,515.70

Hourly Base Pay *

$22.66 - $40.72

Air Force Master Sergeant - Rank Details


Master Sergeant (MSgt)

Classification Noncommissioned Officer
Abbreviation MSgt
NATO Code OR-7
Service United States Air Force
Address Sergeant (last name)
What are a Master Sergeant's Responsibilities?

A master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank and directly above technical sergeant. It is equivalent to the rank of sergeant first class in the Army, gunnery sergeant in the Marines, and chief petty officer in the Navy/Coast Guard. Master sergeants transition from supervising and operating to leading.

Master sergeants serve in roles such as s superintendents, flight chiefs, section chiefs, and non-commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). They should have very developed leadership skills as well as attention to detail. They are the go-to person for both officers and enlisted. Many newly commissioned lieutenants are instructed to “attach” themselves to a master sergeant in order to quickly learn the craft and working environment. Master sergeants must also be well versed in writing performance reports as well as addressing memorandums.

Master sergeants may also serve as a first sergeant or “shirt.” The duties in this capacity are more focused on the overall wellbeing of the enlisted members of a unit.

Master sergeants should also be completing coursework en-route to a bachelor's degree. However, many master sergeants will have already completed his or her degree. In addition, master sergeants should be participating in activities that will further develop his or her skills, leadership, and intellectual abilities.

What is a Master Sergeant's Paygrade?

A Master Sergeant is considered a Noncommissioned Officer, with a paygrade of E-7. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-6 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

On this page you can learn more about a Master Sergeant's payscale, the process of becoming a Master Sergeant, and the history of the rank in the United States Air Force.

Seal of the Air Force Air Force Master Sergeant Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a Master Sergeant is $3,624.90 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $6,515.70 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a Master Sergeant, or visit our Air Force pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.


Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

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For an E-7 Master Sergeant with
years of experience.

Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an E-7 Master Sergeant at varying years in his or her military career.

2 or less years

Over 40 years


Equivalent Ranks to an Air Force Master Sergeant

A Master Sergeant is a Noncommissioned Officer, with a military paygrade of E-7. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-6 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an Air Force Master Sergeant, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States' Armed Services.


** This Document Provided By www.FederalPay.org - The Civil Employee's Resource **
Source: www.federalpay.org/military/air-force/master-sergeant